RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The New York Jets are hours away from their preseason opener at MetLife Stadium as they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The teams recently completed two days of joint practices in advance of Friday's game and while the Jets played hard, there are still some areas that need improvement.
And that's the beauty of the preseason.
Yes, the games aren't exactly the most exciting and wins mean very little. But, it gives both teams opportunities to work on weaknesses to get ready for the start of the regular season. The Jets had plenty of turnover not only with the roster, but also with the coaching staff. Whether the changes work out for the better remains to be seen.
Here are Jets Wire's three things to watch for when the Jets face the Buccaneers on Friday:
Frank Reich’s Play calling
Most coaches don't implement much of a strategy during the preseason for fear of giving too much away to the teams they will face when the games actually count. The offensive and defensive game plans are very vanilla and the only purpose it serves is to see if the rookies or players on the roster bubble will either sink or swim. It doesn't make for interesting football and for certain players, it may do more harm than good in their development.
Frank Reich takes over as offensive coordinator this season after Aaron Glenn fired Tanner Engstrand after one year. The players seem to love Reich's way of calling plays as he gives the players empowerment to adjust on the fly rather than stick to the same assignment when a certain play is called. While the starters will play at least a series, the interesting thing to watch with regards to Reich's play calling is how he handles rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The rookie fourth-round pick is expected to see a good portion of the work load in Friday's game. He is currently listed as the primary backup to Geno Smith and it's pretty clear that the Jets have plenty of confidence in Klubnik to secure the job as they didn't entertain signing a veteran as insurance in case of injury.
If Reich really believes in Klubnik to be the backup, then he needs to open up the playbook more in his first preseason game. Resorting to a conservative game plan will not do much for Klubnik's confidence or make anyone believe he is deserving of being the team's backup quarterback. Klubnik needs to make mistakes so he knows how to correct them. He should take shots down field. He needs to practice throwing the ball in a tight window. He should also get a series or two with the starters so he can develop some sort of rapport with Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. It'll make the transition much smoother should Klubnik have to enter a game when it matters most.
Reich would be doing Klubnik a disservice by only calling short pass plays with a high completion rate. The stat sheet may look good when the game is over, but we'd still have questions as to whether Klubnik is any good and if he has a future in the league. If the Jets really view Klubnik as the backup quarterback to Smith, they need to trust him to lead the team and build off his mistakes. It’s the only way he will learn in the NFL.
The Kicking Competition
In all fairness, Jason Sanders and Cade York have performed well in training camp with York probably getting the slight edge. Obviously, the preseason games will tell us much more as to whether either kicker can replace Nick Folk, who was automatic last year for the Jets. Special Teams Coordinator Chris Banjo deserves the benefit of the doubt as the Jets had one of the top special teams units in the league between Folk and a budding star in Isaiah Williams for the return game.
Friday is the first step in finding Folk’s replacement for this season. Needless to say, Cade York and Jason Sanders have massive shoes to fill. While it's still only the preseason, that doesn’t mean it isn't important. Neither player has kicked in a full season since 2024. They're kicking in practice like their careers are on the line, which is a testament to Banjo's coaching. The battle won't be won for either player after the first preseason game. But, it could give the better kicker a major advantage.
Players Taking Advantage Of Opportunity
The Jets are dealing with a few injuries that are allowing other players to get important reps at key positions. NT T'Vondre Sweat is dealing with a hamstring injury and his absence has opened the door for rookie fourth-round pick Darrell Jackson Jr. to get some key experience with the starting defensive line. TE Kenyon Sadiq is recovering from a core muscle / sports hernia procedure and may not be ready for the start of the season. Jelani Woods, who played for Reich in Indianapolis, has seen his workload increase during practice in Sadiq's absence and he's making the most of the chance.
It's one thing to take advantage of the opportunity in practice, but it needs to translate to the field. The practice reps mean absolutely nothing if the player can't make an impact during the game. While Jackson Jr.'s spot is secure, the same can't be said of Woods or Arian Smith, who is on the roster bubble with the emergence of Isaiah Williams as the more dependable receiver. The opportunity is there for the player to seize if they really want it. A strong first game keeps that player on the coach's radar until the next week. A forgettable game puts them one step closer to the chopping block. It's the ultimate job interview with only one motto. Carpe Diem . Seize the Day.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets vs. Buccaneers: 3 things to watch for during preseason opener
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